Vasectomy forceps

ABSTRACT

Forceps for use in vasectomy operative techniques, characterized by blunt jaws to prevent puncturing of the scrotal skin and by the angular relationship of the jaws with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the forceps and with respect to each other.

United States Patent [191 Textor 1 Oct. 2, 1973 l VASECTOMY FORCEPS [76] Inventor: Brenton A. Textor, 106 Dory Rd.

South, North Palm Beach, Fla. 33408 22 Filed: Dec. 8, 1971 21 App]. No.: 205,846

OTHER PUBLICATIONS New Inventions-A New Type Angled-Catch Forceps Etc. Page 687 Col. 2 Dated 924 60.

V. Mueller Purchasing Catalogue Dated 1956 Page 422-ltem GU604.

Primary ExaminerAldrich F. Medbery Attorney-Peck & Peck [57] ABSTRACT Forceps for use in vasectomy operative techniques, characterized by blunt jaws to prevent puncturing of the scrotal skin and by the angular relationship of the jaws with respect to the longitudinal dimension of the forceps and with respect to each other.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDBBT'ZW 3.762.417

INVENTOR Brenton A. Tex/0r ATTOR Y nations and constructions, of which the invention is capable within the spirit and scope thereof.

It is not unusual in present-day surgical practice to perform vasectomies on males, and it is one of the prime purposes of my invention to provide forceps for use by the surgeon during this surgical procedure, which substantially facilitates the procedure.

One of the difficulties which has been encountered in vasectomies is that in many instances substantial hemorrhaging has occurred, due to the damaging of the tissue and the like, surrounding the vas-deferens,-which must be located before the actual operation may be proceeded with. The forceps, which I have devised for this use, have been particularly designed to facilitate the surgical technique wherein the vas deferens is held between the operative jaws of the'instrument so that the operation may be proceeded with.

At the beginning of the procedure,when the vas deferens is localized and located between the jaws'ofthe forceps, there is a possibility of post-operative infection as well as the puncturing of blood vessels, which would cause operative and post-operativehemorrhaging. The forceps which I have developed'are sostructured that the chance of hemorrhaging, either during or following the operation and of infection, is greatly reduced.

In this operation, it is highly desirable that uponthe grasping of the vas deferens, the tissue surrounding the vas deferens is forced therefrom, so that the incision is made with facility eliminating unnecessary exploration and dissection of the tissues. The operative jaws of the forceps of this invention are angled relative to the-handle of the forceps and to each other in such a manner that the surrounding tissue is forced away from the vas deferens, so that when the incision is made, the vas deferens appears on the surface.

With the foregoing general objects, features and results in view, as well as certain others'which will be apparent from the following explanation, the invention consists in certain novel features in design, construction, mounting and combination of elements, aswill be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the forceps with the jaws thereof in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a view'similar to FIG. 1 with the jaws in open position.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the forceps, with the jawsin closed position.

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the forceps of this invention, I have used the numeral 1 to designate one arm of the forceps and numeral 3 to illustrate the other arm thereof. Each arm, 1 and 3, at one end thereof is provided with the usual looped handle 5,

and locking means 7 of any suitable and conventional type for use with forceps is provided for releasably maintaining the jaws of the instrument in closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. In the usual manner, the arms 1 and 3 intersect and cross over one another, and are pivoted together, as at 9, so that the jaws may be opened and closed.

Numeral 11 has been used to designate in its entirety the operating end of the forceps, the jaws of the operating end being so related and positioned with respect to the entireinstrument and to each other, that the surgical technique in a vasectomy operation is greatly facilitated.

Each arm, 1 and 3, is provided with forwardly extending portions 13 and 15, respectively. Through experimentation, I have discovered that the length of each of these portions best serves the function for which the forceps have been developed, if it is on the order of one-half inch. At the forward end of each extending portion, 13 and 15, the spaced apart operating arms l7 and 19 are formed, which extend angularly from said arms 13 and 15, respectively. The included angles between each arm 13 and 15 and the operating arms 17 and 19 is greater than It is preferable that the length of the operating arms 17 and 19 may be substantially the same as the lengths of the arms 13 and 15.

At the forward ends of each operating arm, 17 and 19, I provide, what I shall term jaws, 21 and 23, respectively. These jaws 21 and 23 are angled inwardly with respect to each other so that in the forceps closed position, the ends of the jaws are in engagement. The jaws 21 and 23 extend at substantially right angles with respect to the operating arms 17 and 19, respectively.

The end 25 of each jaw 21 and 23 is blunt for the reasons asdescribed above.

It will be recognized that the operating end of the instrument is outside a projected plane from the handles thereof.

In using these forceps in a vasectomy operation, the vas-deferens is located by the surgeon and anesthesia is then placed'in the skin overlying the vas-deferens. Following the anesthetization, the surgeon again identifies the vas-deferens and holds it in place with one hand andthe forceps in the other, the jaws 21 and 23 of the open forceps are placed on either side of the vasdeferens. It will be appreciated that the ends of the jaws of the instrument are blunt, as at 25, so there will be no penetrating of the skin when the vas-deferens is localized at the beginning of the procedure. It will be evident that this specific structure decreases the possibility of post-operative infection and the instrument will not puncture any of the blood vessels in the pampiniformplexus, which may cause infection and post operative hemorrhaging. With the jaws of the open instrument disposed on either side of the vas-deferens, a slight'pressure is exerted posteriorily with the instrument and when the vas-deferens is felt to lie between the jaws of the instrument, the jaws are brought together, closing the instrument, and are locked in such position by the locking means, 7. Then a vertical incision is made and, due to the action of the forceps, the vas-deferens will appear at the surface of the incision. While the forceps are positioned relative to the vasdeferens, as described above, and are in locked position, the vas-deferens is grasped with a second instrument and lifted out of the scrotum. The disection then continues in the usual manner.

Due to the angled relationship of the jaws of the forceps, as described above, when the vas-deferens is first grasped through the skin, the surrounding tissue is forced away from the vas-deferens and when the incision is made, the vas-deferens appears at the surface, thereby eliminating unnecessary exploration and dissection of the scrotal tissues.

1 Claim:

1. Forceps for use in vasectomy surgery including a pair of intersecting arms pivotedly connected together at the intersection thereof, each arm having a forwardly extending portion which extends beyond the pivot point, said forwardly extending portion of each arm being on the order of one-half inch in length, an operatangle between each forwardly extending portion and each operating arm being greater than 90, jaws extending inwardly toward each other from the forward ends of said operating means the opposing ends of said jaws being blunt and engageable when the forceps are in closed position and locking means coactive with said arms and operable to maintain said arms in position closing the jaws. 

1. Forceps for use in vasectomy surgery including a pair of intersecting arms pivotedly connected together at the intersection thereof, each arm having a forwardly extending portion which extends beyond the pivot point, said forwardly extending portion of each arm being on the order of one-half inch in length, an operating arm formed on the forward end of each forwardly extending portion, each operating arm extending at an angle from each forwardly extending portion, said operating arms extending in the same direction and being spaced apart, and diverging forwardly the included angle between each forwardly extending portion and each operating arm being greater than 90*, jaws extending inwardly toward each other from the forward ends of said operating means the opposing ends of said jaws being blunt and engageable when the forceps are in closed position and locking means coactive with said arms and operable to maintain said arms in position closing the jaws. 